Vocabulary: Isolationism- a policy of avoiding political or military involvement with other countries Monotheism- the belief in one God Polytheism- the belief in many gods Caste- one of the four classes of people in the social system of the Aryans who settled in India-priests, warriors, peasants, or traders, and non-Aryan laborers or craftsmen The Vedas- four collections of sacred writings produced by the Aryans during an early stage of their settlement in India Dynasty- a series of rulers from a single family Karma- in Hinduism and Buddhism, the totality of ones good and bad deeds which determine their fate for rebirth Dharma- in Hinduism, the religious and moral duties of an individual Reincarnation- belief in continued rebirth until until you reach union with your eternal spirit Ahimsa- central idea in Hinduism, the belief in non-violence Divali- celebration during the winter in Hinduism representing good over evil Puja- a religious practice followed by Hindus which is a daily ritual of washing and prayer Jainism- belief originated from Hinduism in which everything in the universe has a soul and therefore should not be harmed Holi- celebration during the spring in Hinduism to purify the fields Animism- belief that animals carry spirits Nirvana- the final goal in Buddhism that is a union with the universe and release from the cycle of rebirth Tripitaka- the sacred text in Buddhism Theravada Buddhism- sect of Buddhism that closely follows the original teachings of Buddha, life is devoted to hard spiritual work, only the most dedicated (nuns and monks) reach nirvana, this spread to Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia Mahayana Buddhism- sect of Buddhism that is easier for ordinary for people to achieve, it views Buddha as a compassionate god (Buddha forbid his followers to worship him), followers turn to Buddha and other holy spirits for help with daily problems, believe in afterlife filled with many heavens and hells, this spread to China, Tibet, Korea, and Japan Filial Piety- belief in Confuciusism that a person's most important duty is to respect you parents Feudalism- a political system in which lords are granted the use of lands that legally belong to the king in return for their loyalty and military service to the king and people who live and work on the land are given protection Mandate of Heaven- in Chinese history, the divine approval thought to be the basis of royal authority
Important Concepts: 1). Buddhism was founded by Saddhartha Guatama, who later became Buddha. It originated around 566 B.C. Buddhism stresses moral principles such as honesty, charity, and kindness to all living creatures. The basic beliefs of Buddhism are the 4 Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. The 4 Noble Truthsare that all life is full of pain and sorrow, the cause of suffering is the desire for things that are really illusions, the only cure for suffering is to overcome ones desires, and the way to overcome desire is to follow the Eightfold Path. Following the Eightfold Path means you have right views, right aspirations, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right contemplation. By following this you can each nirvana, which is the final goal of Buddhism. When you reach nirvana you are in union with the universe and are released from the cycle of rebirth. Buddhists seek enlightenment through meditation. The sacred text for Buddhism is the Tripitaka (3 Baskets of Wisdom). Buddhism was popular in times of crisis because it emphasized personal salvation, offered hope of eternal peace, and had a kind "god" (Buddha told his followers not to worship him, but Mahayana Buddhists viewed him as one). 2). Hinduism originated around 1500 B.C. making it the world's oldest belief system. In India, it has 700 million followers, which is 85% of the population. It is a polytheistic religion. The primary gods are Brahma (the creator of the universe), Vishnu (the preserver), and Shiva (the destroyer of ignorance and evil). Hinduism originated from animism. Hindus believe in reincarnation (continued rebirth until you reach union with the eternal spirit), karma (the sum of passed lives that is carried with you), and dharma (duties in this life). There is also a caste system which is the belief each person is born into a social class which you couldn't change. You are born into a caste, marry within your caste, and die in the same caste. There are 5 levels, the Brahman (priests) is the highest caste, then comes the Kshatriya (rulers, warriors, and landowners), next the Vaishya (merchants), then the Shudra (artisans and farmers), and finally the untouchables. The caste system kept order among India's people Some of the central ideas of Hinduism are that daily life is sacred, Brahman (unchanging, all powerful, spiritual force), Ahimsa (non-violence to animals), and the unity of all life (everything is connected in a great chain of being). Some religious practices are Puja (daily washing and prayer), that upon death they are cremated and the ashes are thrown into the Ganges river, that they follow a diet, and that they honor the deities with offerings at temples. Hindus are vegetarians because when you eat meat you could be eating someone you knew in a past life. The most sacred animal is the cow. 3). Confuciusism is a philosophy largely present in China. It was started by Confucius, who was born in 551 B.C. and during his life wandered and taught. After his death his students created a collection of his sayings called the Analects. Confucius taught about the 5 Relationships: father to son, elder brother to younger brother, husband to wife, ruler to subject, and friend to friend. He also taught that filial piety (respect for one's parents) is a person's most important duty. It is taught that it is the responsibility of the leader to provide a good government and that the people will follow a educated and virtuous leader who leads by example. Important values of Confuciusism are honesty, hard-working, and concern for others. 4). Legalism, another philosophy in China, comes from the teachings of Hanfeizi, who died in 233 B.C. The beliefs of legalism are that people are naturally evil, goodness must be acquired, greed is the motive for most actions and the start of most conflicts, thpunishments, and that strength is a rulers greatest virtue. This was often used by feudal leaders and was the official policy of Quin emperors, who united China in 221 B.C. 5). Daoism (you guessed it, another philosophy in China) was founded by Lao Tze. He wrote The Way of Virtue, lived during the same time as Confucius, and sought to live in harmony with nature. Daoism teaches that government is unnatural, causes many problems, and that the best government is the one that governs the least. Daoists followed"The Way" by rejecting conflict and strife, ending the conflict between human desires and the simple ways of nature, yielding to pressure (flow like water), and some even rejected the unnatural ways of society. 6). Dynastic Cycle in China- A strong dynasty establishes peace and prosperity (it is considered to have the Mandate of Heaven). In time, the dynasty declines and becomes corrupt, taxes are raised, and their power grows weaker. Disasters such as floods, famines, peasants revolt, and invasions occur. The old dynasty is seen as having lost the Mandate of Heaven and rebellion is justified. The dynasty is overthrown through rebellion and bloodshed. A new dynasty then emerges. The new dynasty gains power, restores peace and order, and claims to have the Mandate of Heaven.
MW
10 Things A Global Smarty Should Know: 1). Be able to describe the rule of Chandragupta Maurya.
Founder of the Mauryan Empire (northern India)
Written about by foreign diplomat in his court
Ruled 324-301 B.C.
His method to conquer neighboring kingdoms was to have his armies harass outer areas of the kingdom, drain their strength and resources, and then move in and take over
Strictly enforced harsh laws
Had government officials direct economic activities and public works projects
Feared assassination
Abdicated throne to his son and became a monk
2). Be able to describe the rule of Asoka.
Converted to Buddhism when he saw the horrific things in war
Was the grandson of Chandragupta Maurya
Became ruler after long war where over 100,000 died
Built hospitals, Buddhist shrines, roads, and rest houses for travelers
Promoted religious tolerance
Last great ruler of the Mauryan Empire
3). Know inventions from China
Paper (105 A.D.)
Movable type (1040 A.D.)
General anesthesia for surgery (202 B.C.)
Method of weaving silk (2700 B.C.)
4). Under the Gupta Empire, India experienced its golden age
5). Under the Han Dynasty, China experienced its golden age
6). Buddhism spread from India to China and other areas in Asia
7). The geography of China isolated it and allowed it to develop untouched by the rest of the world
8).Legalism, Daoism, and Confuciusism are philosophies of China.
9). Hinduism is the world's oldest belief system
10). Know the Mandate of Heaven
MW Mini DBQ: Below is a diagram showing the violent transition of power of ancient China:
The Dynastic Cycle of China
"....has taken place by two manners, by enforcing conformity to Righteousness, and by exhortation. I have enforced the law against killing certain animals and many others, but the greatest progress of Righteousness... comes from exhortation in favor of noninjury to life and abstention from killing living beings." - Asoka (written on stone pillar)
Below is a map showing the greatest extent of territory of four of the major ancient Chinese dynasty: Links: Regents Prep Caste System
Classical India and China by MW and TP
Vocabulary:Isolationism- a policy of avoiding political or military involvement with other countries
Monotheism- the belief in one God
Polytheism- the belief in many gods
Caste- one of the four classes of people in the social system of the Aryans who settled in India-priests, warriors, peasants, or traders, and non-Aryan laborers or craftsmen
The Vedas- four collections of sacred writings produced by the Aryans during an early stage of their settlement in India
Dynasty- a series of rulers from a single family
Karma- in Hinduism and Buddhism, the totality of ones good and bad deeds which determine their fate for rebirth
Dharma- in Hinduism, the religious and moral duties of an individual
Reincarnation- belief in continued rebirth until until you reach union with your eternal spirit
Ahimsa- central idea in Hinduism, the belief in non-violence
Divali- celebration during the winter in Hinduism representing good over evil
Puja- a religious practice followed by Hindus which is a daily ritual of washing and prayer
Jainism- belief originated from Hinduism in which everything in the universe has a soul and therefore should not be harmed
Holi- celebration during the spring in Hinduism to purify the fields
Animism- belief that animals carry spirits
Nirvana- the final goal in Buddhism that is a union with the universe and release from the cycle of rebirth
Tripitaka- the sacred text in Buddhism
Theravada Buddhism- sect of Buddhism that closely follows the original teachings of Buddha, life is devoted to hard spiritual work, only the most dedicated (nuns and monks) reach nirvana, this spread to Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia
Mahayana Buddhism- sect of Buddhism that is easier for ordinary for people to achieve, it views Buddha as a compassionate god (Buddha forbid his followers to worship him), followers turn to Buddha and other holy spirits for help with daily problems, believe in afterlife filled with many heavens and hells, this spread to China, Tibet, Korea, and Japan
Filial Piety- belief in Confuciusism that a person's most important duty is to respect you parents
Feudalism- a political system in which lords are granted the use of lands that legally belong to the king in return for their loyalty and military service to the king and people who live and work on the land are given protection
Mandate of Heaven- in Chinese history, the divine approval thought to be the basis of royal authority
Important Concepts:
1). Buddhism was founded by Saddhartha Guatama, who later became Buddha. It originated around 566 B.C. Buddhism stresses moral principles such as honesty, charity, and kindness to all living creatures. The basic beliefs of Buddhism are the 4 Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. The 4 Noble Truths are that all life is full of pain and sorrow, the cause of suffering is the desire for things that are really illusions, the only cure for suffering is to overcome ones desires, and the way to overcome desire is to follow the Eightfold Path. Following the Eightfold Path means you have right views, right aspirations, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right contemplation. By following this you can each nirvana, which is the final goal of Buddhism. When you reach nirvana you are in union with the universe and are released from the cycle of rebirth. Buddhists seek enlightenment through meditation. The sacred text for Buddhism is the Tripitaka (3 Baskets of Wisdom). Buddhism was popular in times of crisis because it emphasized personal salvation, offered hope of eternal peace, and had a kind "god" (Buddha told his followers not to worship him, but Mahayana Buddhists viewed him as one).
2). Hinduism originated around 1500 B.C. making it the world's oldest belief system. In India, it has 700 million followers, which is 85% of the population. It is a polytheistic religion. The primary gods are Brahma (the creator of the universe), Vishnu (the preserver), and Shiva (the destroyer of ignorance and evil). Hinduism originated from animism. Hindus believe in reincarnation (continued rebirth until you reach union with the eternal spirit), karma (the sum of passed lives that is carried with you), and dharma (duties in this life). There is also a caste system which is the belief each person is born into a social class which you couldn't change. You are born into a caste, marry within your caste, and die in the same caste. There are 5 levels, the Brahman (priests) is the highest caste, then comes the Kshatriya (rulers, warriors, and landowners), next the Vaishya (merchants), then the Shudra (artisans and farmers), and finally the untouchables. The caste system kept order among India's people Some of the central ideas of Hinduism are that daily life is sacred, Brahman (unchanging, all powerful, spiritual force), Ahimsa (non-violence to animals), and the unity of all life (everything is connected in a great chain of being). Some religious practices are Puja (daily washing and prayer), that upon death they are cremated and the ashes are thrown into the Ganges river, that they follow a diet, and that they honor the deities with offerings at temples. Hindus are vegetarians because when you eat meat you could be eating someone you knew in a past life. The most sacred animal is the cow.
3). Confuciusism is a philosophy largely present in China. It was started by Confucius, who was born in 551 B.C. and during his life wandered and taught. After his death his students created a collection of his sayings called the Analects. Confucius taught about the 5 Relationships: father to son, elder brother to younger brother, husband to wife, ruler to subject, and friend to friend. He also taught that filial piety (respect for one's parents) is a person's most important duty. It is taught that it is the responsibility of the leader to provide a good government and that the people will follow a educated and virtuous leader who leads by example. Important values of Confuciusism are honesty, hard-working, and concern for others.
4). Legalism, another philosophy in China, comes from the teachings of Hanfeizi, who died in 233 B.C. The beliefs of legalism are that people are naturally evil, goodness must be acquired, greed is the motive for most actions and the start of most conflicts, thpunishments, and that strength is a rulers greatest virtue. This was often used by feudal leaders and was the official policy of Quin emperors, who united China in 221 B.C.
5). Daoism (you guessed it, another philosophy in China) was founded by Lao Tze. He wrote The Way of Virtue, lived during the same time as Confucius, and sought to live in harmony with nature. Daoism teaches that government is unnatural, causes many problems, and that the best government is the one that governs the least. Daoists followed"The Way" by rejecting conflict and strife, ending the conflict between human desires and the simple ways of nature, yielding to pressure (flow like water), and some even rejected the unnatural ways of society.
6). Dynastic Cycle in China- A strong dynasty establishes peace and prosperity (it is considered to have the Mandate of Heaven). In time, the dynasty declines and becomes corrupt, taxes are raised, and their power grows weaker. Disasters such as floods, famines, peasants revolt, and invasions occur. The old dynasty is seen as having lost the Mandate of Heaven and rebellion is justified. The dynasty is overthrown through rebellion and bloodshed. A new dynasty then emerges. The new dynasty gains power, restores peace and order, and claims to have the Mandate of Heaven.
MW
10 Things A Global Smarty Should Know:
1). Be able to describe the rule of Chandragupta Maurya.
- Founder of the Mauryan Empire (northern India)
- Written about by foreign diplomat in his court
- Ruled 324-301 B.C.
- His method to conquer neighboring kingdoms was to have his armies harass outer areas of the kingdom, drain their strength and resources, and then move in and take over
- Strictly enforced harsh laws
- Had government officials direct economic activities and public works projects
- Feared assassination
- Abdicated throne to his son and became a monk
2). Be able to describe the rule of Asoka.- Converted to Buddhism when he saw the horrific things in war
- Was the grandson of Chandragupta Maurya
- Became ruler after long war where over 100,000 died
- Built hospitals, Buddhist shrines, roads, and rest houses for travelers
- Promoted religious tolerance
- Last great ruler of the Mauryan Empire
3). Know inventions from China- Paper (105 A.D.)
- Movable type (1040 A.D.)
- General anesthesia for surgery (202 B.C.)
- Method of weaving silk (2700 B.C.)
4). Under the Gupta Empire, India experienced its golden age5). Under the Han Dynasty, China experienced its golden age
6). Buddhism spread from India to China and other areas in Asia
7). The geography of China isolated it and allowed it to develop untouched by the rest of the world
8).Legalism, Daoism, and Confuciusism are philosophies of China.
9). Hinduism is the world's oldest belief system
10). Know the Mandate of Heaven
MW
Mini DBQ:
"....has taken place by two manners, by enforcing conformity to Righteousness, and by exhortation. I have enforced the law against killing certain animals and many others, but the greatest progress of Righteousness... comes from exhortation in favor of noninjury to life and abstention from killing living beings."
- Asoka (written on stone pillar)
Below is a map showing the greatest extent of territory of four of the major ancient Chinese dynasty:
Links:
Regents Prep
Caste System